what is the advantage of a nasal mask over a full face one?

[SteveOH]

other than having less of your face covered. just curious...

also, is it easier to keep the seal on a nasal mask because there is less area to cover?

[dsm]

Good question

I think you hit two of the main issues - some people have great difficulty covering their face with a F/F mask. It takes a lot of getting used to. Also as you point out, the seal area is greater & the area around the chin is an area of potential leaks.

The nasal mask is lighter & thus feels easier on many faces. But for some people the more concentrated pressure in a small area around their nose causes more nasal congestion. The 'floating' nasal masks try to reduce that pressure.

There is a much smaller 'deadspace' in a nasal mask & thus there should be a lower likelihood of CO2 retention from re-breathing. (This would be an interesting area for studies as to what numbers of people on F/F masks suffer from greater re-breathing of air side-effects vs those on nasal masks).

Also because of the smaller 'deadspace' in a nasal mask, some bilevel machine activity such as risetime etc: is just that bit more pronounced. Using a F/F mask buffers some of those effects. C-Flex & A-Flex may also feel different to people on one type of mask vs the other.

DSM

[Julie]

The WHOLE point is that a full face mask (in fact just a nasal mask with a slight extension to also cover your mouth, not your 'whole' face) is to accommodate people whose mouths open up once they're asleep and they lose all the good Cpap air out that way. With a FF mask, you can open up but the air will end up in your throat where it belongs and do its job. THAT's the point of it.

[SteveOH]

thanks for the reply. The reason for my question was that I was wondering why my DME gave me a nasal mask to begin with when there is the risk of mouth leak. Why not just start a new cpap'er with a full face masks so that mouth leaks are not an issue.

[Wulfman]

thanks for the reply. The reason for my question was that I was wondering why my DME gave me a nasal mask to begin with when there is the risk of mouth leak. Why not just start a new cpap'er with a full face masks so that mouth leaks are not an issue.

The nasal masks are cheaper......they can make more profit off of them. It's that simple.

In my opinion, the nasal masks have a definite DIS-advantage when compared to the full face masks. (mouth leaks, as you noted)


Den

[Goofproof]

thanks for the reply. The reason for my question was that I was wondering why my DME gave me a nasal mask to begin with when there is the risk of mouth leak. Why not just start a new cpap'er with a full face masks so that mouth leaks are not an issue.

The nasal masks are cheaper......they can make more profit off of them. It's that simple.

In my opinion, the nasal masks have a definite DIS-advantage when compared to the full face masks. (mouth leaks, as you noted)


Den

As Wulfman says, profit, they could care less if you mouthbreath and don't receive the treatment you need. They have the money in the bank, if you go back, for the FF mask later it's another trip to the bank, with more money. If you Quit treatment because of using a mask that doesn't hold the needed pressure in your airway, while you have their equiptment in the closet, they make more money. It's a win win for them. Jim

[LinkC]

I was wondering why my DME gave me a nasal mask to begin with when there is the risk of mouth leak. Why not just start a new cpap'er with a full face masks so that mouth leaks are not an issue.

Julie has it right. If you DON'T have a tendency to mouth-breathe (and most people don't...) a nasal almost always keeps a seal better. There's no need to go FF and risk leaks due to face contour, jaw movement, chin structure, etc. unless a nasal just won't work for you. Look at the number of nasal models available compared with FF.

The DME will provide whatever is specified on the 'script. And that SHOULD be determined at the titration study. If nothing is specified (shame on your doctor!) you'll get the far more common nasal mask. Profit-driven? Probably to some extent, but only if Insurance pays the same for both masks. (However, it would be to a greedy DME's advantage to provide whatever mask would result in a SECOND sale when that one didn't work, if no mask was specified by the doc.)

[Jason S.]

The nasal masks are cheaper......they can make more profit off of them. It's that simple.
Den

I disagree. This comment assumes the insurance reimbursement of the nasal mask is the same as the FFM and therefore the DME would profit more due to its lower acquisition cost for the nasal mask. This is balls out wrong. If anything, DME's will profit the most by selling you their most expensive item. The more expensive the item, the more wiggle room for profit. Same goes for hospitals, diagnostic testing, "procedures" etc..

[Kiralynx]

other than having less of your face covered. just curious... also, is it easier to keep the seal on a nasal mask because there is less area to cover?

You'll find that the people who love nasal or nasal pillow masks are staunch in their support, and the full-face mask supporters likewise.

I have a full face mask which I hate. I use it only if my allergies are kicking up, or I have a respiratory infection.

Otherwise, I use a nasal mask because it is more comfortable. I'm not trapped with junk on my face which smothers me and leaves me sweating. I created a device to keep from mouth-breathing which does not increase my claustrophobia the way a full face mask does.

Both types of masks have their place. It's all a matter of what works for YOU.

[LaurieJ31981]

I just tried a FF mask for the first time last night after using a Nasal mask for 5 weeks... My mouth opens, so I tape it shut. Which annoys me from time to time... However my numbers went way up with the FF mask... I am not sure why. My leak said 0.00 l/s... and it was comfortable to me, I had no issues with it... other then a really dry mouth and high numbers...

I did better with the Nasal...

[yorkiemum01]

I must inquire....about the 'taping' situation. HOW does someone tape their mouth shut
when they cannot pass enough air through their sinuses??? As long as I can remember, have
always been a mouth breather, as my sinus passages are very small, and add allergies into
that and practically non-usable. Heard enough horror stories about Afrin, and wouldnt touch the stuff,
but do use "Astepro' on bad bad days, but other than that, just live with it.
Wish I could use a nasal pillow mask for my therapy, and be rid of the face marks my mask leaves, but
its certainly nothing more than a cosmetic annoyance in my life. Figure 'at least I'm sleeping' and dont
think I've been able to acheive that for 25 plus years...so just count those blessings!

[ricochetv1]

My recent experience must be the diehard exception to the general experience with DMEs. I told them what kind of mask I wanted (Mirage Liberty hybrid) and they said "Ok, but we'll ALSO give you a nasal only, just in case."
Uhmm.... ok.... I'm paying them $250 for the entire setup, which is my 20% per insurance (plus what's left of my unmet deductible...)

[LaurieJ31981]

I must inquire....about the 'taping' situation. HOW does someone tape their mouth shut
when they cannot pass enough air through their sinuses??? !

I am not sure how someone that can't pass enough air through their sinuses would be able to do it... But I can breathe fine through my nose with the mask, but my mouth opens... so if I tape it shut, I don't end up losing all my air through my mouth. But my Dr. suggested I try the FF one since my mouth opens.

However with the high numbers I am getting with the FF mask, I am going back to the Nasal and taping, until I see my Dr. on the 29th.

[bonjour]

The nasal masks and the FFM have different billing codes and thus, to the DME different cost structures. Insurance companies pay on the basis of these billing codes.